Dear Readers,
My wife, Jenny, and I look forward to celebrating our wedding anniversary number 33 next month and, before then, in just 3 days from now, Jenny is due to have her birthday number 33 x 2. Here are 3 of ‘my Queen’s’ favourite photos from the past few days…
…others were more than willing to help!!
Here in Blog Post #128 on my 60th birthday, I would like to include a wee puzzle involving the number 128, also because H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II has now been the wonderful queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for a remarkable 70 years & 128 days, so far!
who is still reigning in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The numbers puzzle is this: use 1, 2 and 8 just once each in a calculation that results in the number 128. You can freely use any of +, -, x, ÷, parentheses ( ), and exponents wherever you wish.
As the Queen is the most powerful piece in a game of chess, let’s have a beautiful chess puzzle in which it’s White to play and force a win in just 3 moves, and White’s queen plays a stunning role…
Today at Musica Mundi School where I work, three of the graduating senior students gave fascinating presentations detailing the tremendous research that they had done as part of the very high-level Musica Mundi School Diploma. Warm congratulations to all of them, and to the further four students who will present tomorrow morning.
With kindest wishes as always,
Paul M😊twani xxx ♥
P.S. = Puzzle Solutions!
2(8-1)=128 in the numbers puzzle.
In the chess puzzle, White wins with 1. Ne6+!! because of 1…fxe6 2 Qf8# or 1…K retreats 2. Qb8+ or 1…Qxe6 2 Qh6+!! intending 2…Kg8 3 Qf8# or 2…Kxh6 3 Bf8#, a lovely finish ♥😊♥.
Paul Motwani 